Banana chocolate chip snack cake

Whole wheat and naturally sweetened, this banana chocolate chip snack cake hits the spot ANY time of day!

Happy Friday, friends! I hope you’ve had a good week, but you’ll have to excuse me if I’m an emotional mess today.

M had her preschool graduation last night. Cue the tears.

I literally started crying as soon as she started walking down the aisle. They sang a song, went back out while the next class sang and came back in with graduation caps on, tassels and all. Oh the tears.

She’s been with some of the friends in her preschool class since they were 3-4 months old. We’ve grown up with these families, navigated the world of parenting together. And now it’s time to say goodbye.

I tried not to bawl uncontrollably because M still doesn’t understand that she won’t have any of her same friends in her class come kindergarten in the fall; they’re all going to different schools. It will be an adjustment for sure.

Sniffle, sniffle. 

The best cure for feeling like time is flying by? Slowing down to savor it.

And we are – we’ve got a beach vacation next week and I’m so excited to lounge in the sun, chase my little ones in the sand, splash in the ocean and just drink in summer.

(I’m definitely making bourbon slush, too, so I’ll literally be drinking in summer ;))

I’m also packing some overnight oatmeal jars and some of today’s banana chocolate chip snack cake to have ready-to-go breakfasts and snacks on hand next week. Gives us more time in the sun!

Cake, of course, is a dessert. Snack cake, however, is an anytime kind of affair. Breakfast, late morning, post-lunch, after dinner – anytime you need it!

It’s moist and fluffy and sweet and just the right hint of banana with plenty of chocolate chips scattered throughout so you get a bit of gooey chocolate with every bite.

I have discovered I have zero self-control around this snack cake. I had three for breakfast one day a couple of weeks ago. And um, that was after I ate breakfast. They were the small squares at least.

OK, not true. They were the super big ones. #horribleliar

A few notes:

• I have tried this with less honey and fewer chocolate chips and it just wasn’t sweet enough. The recipe below is perfectly indulgent but still decently healthy.
• I’ve also tried this using butter or substituting applesauce in its place. Both turn out good, though the butter obviously lends a bit more richness. I leave it up to you.
• After these are cooked and cooled, they can be kept, covered, at room temperature for up to 2 days. After that, I keep them in the fridge (for another 2-3 days) or freeze them. You can pop them straight into the microwave to warm up for a quick breakfast on the go.

M says it’s time to eat! 👆 And the preschool graduate gets what she wants this week!

I hope you give these a try, whatever the time of day. And I’ll be stopping in with a couple of recipes next week, while we get our beach week on.

Have a wonderful weekend, and enjoy!

Banana chocolate chip snack cake

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Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 25 minutes Total Time 35 minutes

Serves 9 large squares or 16 small squares     adjust servings

This whole wheat, naturally sweetened snack cake hits the spot ANY time of day!

Ingredients

• 2 large ripe bananas (or 3 small bananas)
• 1/3 cup honey (or substitute maple syrup)
• 1/2 cup milk (regular, soy, almond - whatever you use)
• 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter (or sub unsweetened applesauce)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Grease an 8x8 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork and add the honey, milk, butter and vanilla. Mix until well combined.
3. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
4. Add the wet mixture to the dry and stir until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Pour the batter into prepared baking pan and smooth the top so its even.
6. Bake at 350 for 22-26 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Let cool for a few minutes before slicing into squares.

Recipe Notes

Extras can be kept, covered, at room temperature for up to 2 days. After that, store them in the fridge (for another 2-3 days) or freeze them. You can pop them straight from the fridge or freezer into the microwave to warm up for a quick breakfast on the go.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
Amount Per Serving	As Served
Calories 3kcal Calories from fat 1
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Transfat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2mg	0%
Carbohydrate 0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Sugars 0g
Protein 0g

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:

	Calories	2000
Total Fat	Less than	65g
Sat Fat	Less than	25g
Cholesterol	Less than	300mg
Sodium	Less than	2,400mg
Total Carbohydrate		300g
Dietary Fiber		25g